Ponting vows to fight for his place in Australian team

Veteran batsman Ricky Ponting has vowed to fight for his place in the Australian Test team ahead of the upcoming series against New Zealand.

Melbourne: Under pressure to retire following his prolonged lean patch, veteran batsman Ricky Ponting has vowed to fight for his place in the Australian Test team ahead of the upcoming series against New Zealand.

Ponting is coming off a lean 24 months with the bat, averaging just 14 in his 13 innings before scoring a crucial 62 against South Africa in Johannesburg this week.

"Of course (I want to keep playing). I really enjoy it and always have," Ponting said after arriving home from South Africa.

"It's a great team to be a part of at the moment. I want to be around and hopefully be able to have some sort of impact on the way the team plays If I keep doing my job, then hopefully I keep getting picked," he added.

The former skipper has not scored a Test century since January last year but his gritty knock in Australia's record-breaking chase in the second Test in Johannesburg convinced the 37-year-old he deserves his spot.

"When you know that you can contribute to wins that's what it's all about I guess. I felt I had a part to play in the second game," Ponting, who is considered Australia's greatest batsman after Don Bradman, was quoted as saying by 'The Age'.

Test captain Michael Clarke backed Ponting to keep his spot, saying he still has a lot to offer to Australian cricket if he can build on his most recent innings. Text: PTI